LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – After sweeping through conference play without dropping a match in 2008, it is no surprise that Bard College has been selected to repeat as Skyline Conference champion.  The Raptors, under the direction of head coach Mike Abalos, earned four first-place votes.  Mount Saint Vincent was picked second while Polytechnic was voted third.

In the inaugural season of Skyline Conference men's volleyball, Bard went 17-13 overall, including 11-0 against conference opponents en route to its first Skyline title in any sport.  The Raptors also qualified for the ECAC tournament for the first time.

Coach Abalos lost a key piece from last season's squad in Skyline Player of the Year and Tournament MVP Zachary Hamaker.  As a senior, Hamaker averaged 3.69 kills and 3.51 digs per game while hitting .292. He also led Bard with 55 service aces (0.59 per game) and ranked second on the team with 58 total blocks (0.62 per game).  But the Raptors still have plenty of experience from which to draw.  Sophomore outside hitter Brice Ormesher was selected as the Skyline Conference Rookie of the Year after averaging 2.38 kills, 1.70 digs, 0.44 service aces and 0.25 blocks per game. He ranked second on the team in service aces, third in kills and fourth in digs.  Sophomore setter Andrew Cortrite was also an All-Skyline second-team selection as a freshman.

Mount Saint Vincent also has a number of experienced players returning.  Sophomore outside hitter David Guerrero and senior outside hitter T.J. Pufahl were both first team All-Skyline selections last season.  Guerrero ranked second in the conference in both kills (3.92) and service aces (0.61) as a freshman.  Sophomore middle blocker John Furka also earned second-team All-Skyline honors as a rookie.

First-year Polytechnic coach Zach Emnett will call upon junior outside hitter Robert Petri for experience and leadership.  Petri led the Skyline Conference in both kills (4.13) and digs (4.20) while ranking third in hitting percentage (.283) en route to first team All-Skyline honors.

Purchase also has a new head coach in Frank Kwok as it looks to continue its improvement in just its fourth varsity season.  The Panthers will call upon first team All-Skyline selection in junior Daniel Grabowski-Clark and second-team All-Skyline selection in senior Bic Cass.

SKYLINE CONFERENCE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL 
2009 PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

1. Bard                 (4) 16
2. Mount Saint Vincent  (1) 13
3. Polytechnic              10
4. Purchase                  7
5. Yeshiva                   4

(first-place votes in parentheses)